US Export Plan - Sector Report - Space

Opportunity states

The US space industry is organised into regional clusters, and the geographic focus for Scottish exporters in the sector can affect access to space infrastructure, talent, funding and demand. Key opportunity regions identified through research include California, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Washington and Washington DC (and the surrounding states such as Virginia).

Southern California is the largest space ecosystem in the United States, with a deep legacy of defence and aerospace contracting alongside major commercial hubs such as SpaceX and Planet Labs. While some migration of the sector has occurred over the years, California continues to be a critical state for businesses seeking to engage with the US space industry, as the region benefits from a dense concentration of primes and startups, a highly skilled talent pool, and proximity to leading research institutions such as Caltech, Stanford, and UC Berkeley.

Texas has also become a strong player in launch capabilities. There is a space cluster in Houston, in part thanks to it being home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the historic Mission Control for human spaceflight, and a hub for aerospace innovation that has shaped US and international space exploration for over 60 years. It also has a spaceport and has developed a thriving aerospace ecosystem beyond NASA, with private companies, research institutions, and universities contributing to innovation.^[28]

Florida has historically had significant launch capability, serving as the primary launch site for US human and commercial spaceflight. There is a long history of launching rockets through the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The region around Brevard County, known as the Space Coast, has developed into a thriving aerospace cluster. It hosts major companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, alongside a growing network of startups. Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, reported over 90 commercial launches in 2024, transporting more than 1,300 payloads.^[29] Businesses in Florida also tend to have a strong focus on quantum and photonics, with aligns well with Scotland’s existing strengths.

Colorado has significant presence in the space sector, as it combines military, commercial, and research strengths, contributing to aerospace innovation and national security. Colorado ranks #1 per capita in aerospace employment, with more than 55,000 direct aerospace jobs and over 2,000 aerospace businesses operating in the state.^[30] Colorado hosts three of the six US Space Force bases, the Space Force Operations Command, and the US Space Command headquarters.^[31]

Washington, and particularly Seattle, is also a notable hub, as it is home to Amazon and its AWS division, which has developed extensive ground station infrastructure to support the Amazon Kuiper project aimed at delivering satellite‑based internet. The region is further strengthened by the presence and headquarters of Blue Origin (the space company owned by Jeff Bezos), adding significant commercial space capability to the local ecosystem.

Other notable opportunity states include:

Washington DC is a key area through policy and government decision-makers, being home to NASA and Space Force.^[32] There are a lot of space companies headquartered in Washington DC, however this is primarily in traditional space and defence, and is more government-centric through expenditure on the sector through civil funding, such as companies like AAC Clyde Space. The surrounding states, such as Maryland and Virginia are also home for some of the most significant players in the industry, such as Boeing.

Ohio presents a potential future opportunity within the US space sector. Three major space station companies; Axiom Space (headquartered in Texas), Vast (California), and Voyager Technologies (Colorado), are competing for leadership in this area and are working to establish a cluster in Ohio. The state’s appeal lies in the strong academic base provided by institutions such as Ohio State University, which offers significant research capabilities. This makes Ohio particularly attractive for developments at the intersection of space, biotechnology, and agritech, where satellite technology can play a transformative role. With growing interest and the likelihood of substantial funding, the region is one to watch as an emerging hub.

Utah is a significant aerospace and defence cluster, being a key hub for rocket launches and propulsion, with a long history in rocket development and large-scale rocket booster manufacturing. In early 2025, the state took major steps towards establishing a spaceport through the creation of a dedicated committee to evaluate its feasibility, evidencing strong activity and momentum in the sector.